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Rumor: Apple to launch a lower-spec iMac this month

imacIf you’re considering the purchase of a 21.5-inch iMac in the coming weeks, you may be interested to know that, according to a 9to5Mac report, the Cupertino company is about to launch a new one to add to its current range.

It’s thought that the new 21.5-inch iMac will have slightly less under the hood – in which case, it should cause slightly less damage to your wallet.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the expected specifications of the new machine, with information for the existing entry level 21.5-inch Mac shown in brackets:

  • 3.1 GHz dual-core processor (2.5 GHz quad-core processor)
  • 2 GB of DDR3 RAM (4 GB of RAM)
  • 250 GB of hard drive storage space (500 GB)
  • AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics processor with 256 MB of dedicated memory (same processor but with double the dedicated memory at 512 MB)

Apple’s entry level 21.5-inch iMac is currently priced at $1,199, so it could well be that this rumored model will break the $1000 barrier. It may be worth a look if you’re eager to save a few hundred bucks – you’ll still be getting a neat piece of kit with plenty of power.

It’s also pointed out by 9to5Mac that refurbished entry level iMacs are currently showing on Apple’s online store for $929. Will the new one beat this on the price front?

9to5Mac’s source, a Mr. X who is known to have got things right in the past, says that the new computer will be launched (without fanfare) on August 16, or thereabouts.

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Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
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